Volumetric measuring and dispensing device with scraper

ABSTRACT

A machine for volumetrically measuring and dispensing predetermined quantities of a product such as peas, beans, corn or potatoes. A large quantity of the product is stored in a hopper, and to divide the product into charges of predetermined quantity, the product is discharged into a measuring receptacle of predetermined volume through a spout in the hopper. To dispense the product, the receptacle is moved by a fluid operated actuator from a filling position beneath the spout to a discharge position spaced horizontally from the spout, the receptacle being slidable on a slideway which is mounted for vertical adjustment on the machine frame. Accurate filling of the receptacle is insured by a blade which is attached to the actuator and which, prior to shifting of the receptacle from the filling position, is moved over a portion of the upper end of the receptacle, the blade then being movable with the receptacle to the discharge position to slice through the product between the spout and the receptacle and to level the top layer of product even with the top of the receptacle. The receptacle is formed by two sleeves which are slidably interfitted, and the volume of the receptacle can be changed by telescoping the sleeves together or extending the sleeves by raising or lowering the slideway. A vacuum drain is positioned in the slideway beneath the hopper spout to drain excess fluid from the product.

United States Patent Robert F. Lense [72] Inventor Rockford. 111. [21]Appl. No. 858,933 [22] Filed Sept. 18,1969

[45] Patented [73] Assignee Aug. 31. 1971 'Riegel Paper Corporation NewYork, N.Y.

[54] VOLUMETRIC MEASURING AND DISPENSING [56] References Cited I UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,052,654 2/1913 Crowley 222/194 2,857,939 2/1954 Pechy222/342 X 3,249,257 10/1964 Nolt 222/80 3,330,311 10/1964 Christine etal 141/167 I ABSTRACT: A machine for volumetrically measuring anddispensing predetermined quantities ofa product such as peas,

' beans, corn 'or potatoes. A large quantity of the product is stored ina hopper, and to divide the product into charges of predeterminedquantity, the product is discharged into a measuring receptacle ofpredetermined volume through a spout in the hopper. To dispense theproduct, the receptacle is moved by a fluid operated actuator from afilling position beneath the spout to a discharge position spacedhorizontally from the spout, the receptacle being slidab'le on aslideway which is mounted for vertical adjustment on the machine frame.Accurate filling of the receptacle is insured by a blade which isattached to the actuator and which, prior to shifting of the receptaclefrom the filling position, is moved over a portion of the upper end ofthe receptacle, the blade then being movable with the receptacle to thedischarge position to slice through the product between the spout andthe receptacle and to level the top layer of product even with the topof the receptacle. The receptacle is formed by two sleeves which areslidably interfitted, and the volume of the receptacle can be changed bytelescoping the sleeves together or extending the sleeves by raising orlowering the slideway. A vacuum drain is positioned in the slidewaybeneath the hopper spout to drain excess fluid from the product.

VOLUMETRIC MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE WITH SCRAPER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a machine for volumetricallymeasuring and dispensing equal predetermined quantities of a productand, more specifically, a particlelike product such as peas, corn,beans, diced potatoes, and the like. The product is stored in a hoppermounted on the frame of the machine and is discharged through a spoutinto a receptacle of predetermined volume slidable on a slideway whichis mounted on the frame. The receptacle is movable between a fillingposition beneath the spout and a discharge position spaced horizontallyfrom the spout and preferably is formed by inner and outer telescopingsleeves so that the volume of the receptacle can be changed by varyingthe extent of telescoping the sleeves. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention isto level the top layer of product in the receptacle even with the top ofthe receptacle more accurately and smoothly than has been possibleheretofore thereby to insure more accurate filling of the receptacle.

It is a more detailed object to accomplish the above by passing a bladethrough the particles between the receptacle and the spout after thereceptacle is filled so as to cut through the particles and thus reducethe tendency of the particles to jump out of the receptacle as the toplayer is leveled and as the receptacle is moved to the dischargeposition.

Another aspect of the invention resides in the novel mounting of theblade to enable fast operation of the machine while still reducing thetendency of the particles to jump, this being accomplished by moving theblade to cover only a portion of the upper end of the receptacle whilethe latter is in the filling position and then moving the blade and thereceptacle in unison to the discharge position with the blade coveringonly a portion of the upper end of the receptacle.

It is a further object of the invention to remove excess liquid from theproduct in the receptacle and, for this purpose, a drain with a vacuumpulled thereon communicates with the receptacle when the latter is inthe filling position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a uniquearrangement for changing the volume of the receptacle without thenecessity of raising or lowering the hopper or dismantling the machineand, more specifically, this is accomplished by mounting the slidewayadjustably on the frame for vertical movement to be raised or loweredthus telescoping or extending the sleeves to change the volume of thereceptacle.

It is a related object to insure extension of the sleeves in directproportion to the lowering of the slideway by the provision of means tobias one of the sleeves against the slideway with a pressure thatremains constant regardless of the degree of extension ofthe sleeves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary perspectiveview schematically showing a machine embodying the novel features of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of themachine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially along the line3-3 of FIG. I and with parts broken away for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross section taken substantiallyalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4 but showing certain partsin moved positions.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken'substantiallyalong the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantiallyalong the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the receptacle illustratedin FIG. 4 but showing the sleeves extended.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the receptacle in the I DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings for purpose ofillustration, the invention is embodied in a machine 10 (FIG. 1') fordividing a product into measured charges of equal predetermined volumeand dispensing these charges into containers II. A

large-amount of the product 12 (FIG. 9) is stored in a hopper 13 mountedon the frame 14 of the machine and is discharged from the hopper througha spout 15 (FIG. 4) and into the open upper end of a receptacle 16 ortranschamber 16 (FIG. 2) of predetermined volume, the receptacleinitially being positioned beneath the spout in a filling position. Whenthe receptacle is full, the top layer of the product in the receptacleis leveled, and the receptacle is slid along a flat, generallyhorizontal slideway 18 (FIG. 4) to a discharge station or position(FIG. 1) over a discharge funnel 19 (FIGS. I and 5) which extendsdownwardly from a hole 20 (FIG. 5) in the slideway. The bottom of thereceptacle is open with the slideway preventing the escape of productfrom the open bot tom except when the receptacle is in the dischargeposition. To empty the receptacle, the latter is moved over thedischarge funnel, and the product falls through the open bottom of thereceptacle and through the hole 20 into the discharge funnel and isdispensed into one of the containers 11 positioned beneath the dischargefunnel.

In this instance, the product 12 is formed of irregularly shapedparticles 21 (FIG. 9) such as peas, beans, kernels of corn, or dicedpotatoes. These particles from a rough, uneven upper layer at the top ofthe receptacle I6 and, when the upper layer is leveled even with the topof the receptacle to form one charge of predetermined volume, theparticles tend to jump upwardly to leave the receptacle partiallyunfilled.

In accordance with the present invention, the tendency of the particles21 to jump out of the receptacle I6 is restricted by shearing the toplayer of particles even with the top of the receptacle and by confiningthe lower portions of the cut particles within the receptacle. For thesepurposes, a blade 22 (FIG. 5) is advanced between the spout 15 and thetop of the receptacle to cover a portion of the top of the receptacleprior to movement of the receptacle from the filling position. The bladethen is advanced with the receptacle to the discharge position to cutthrough the particles forming the top layer and confine the lowerportions of these particles beneath the blade thus preventing theparticles in the top layer from jumping out of the receptacle duringleveling. With this arrangement, the receptacle can be filled moreaccurately and consistently with an exact volume of product than hadbeen possible heretofore and, by moving the blade partially over thereceptacle and then moving the two in unison, the machine 10 can beoperated at a high rate of speed.

In this instance, the blade 22 is moved in a two-stage operation to cutthrough the particles 21 forming the top layer of the product 12 in thereceptacle 16 to level the top layer of particles in the receptacle evenwith the top of the receptacle. First, the blade is advanced from rightto left (from the position shown in FIG. 9) and between the upper endofthe receptacle and the lower end of the spout I5 to a cutting position(FIG. in which the blade covers a portionof the upper end of thereceptacle. As the blade is advanced to the cutting position, the bladecuts through the particles in its path. Finally, once the blade reachesthe cutting position, the blade and the receptacle are moved in unisonfrom right to left to the discharge position (FIG. 11) with the blademoving across the lower end of the spout and slicing off the particleslevel with the upper end of the receptacle. As the receptacle slidesfrom beneath the spout, the upper end portions of the particles in theupper layer which extend both above and below the top of the receptacleare held against movement by the lower edge portion of the spout, andthe blade slices through these particles thus allowing the upperportions of the particles to remain in the spout while the lowerportions are forced under the blade to be held in the receptacle againstupward movement by the blade.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the blade 22 herein is in the form ofarectangular plate which is located above the receptacle 16 in agenerally horizontal plane. The blade extends across the entire upperend of the receptacle and extends beyond the edges of the receptacleboth to the right and left (FIG. 3). To allow the product 12 to passthrough the blade into the receptacle and also to from'the cutting edgeof the blade, a circular hole 23 of the same diameter as the interior ofthe upper end of the receptacle is formed vertically through the blade.The edge 24 (FIG. 6) forming the hole is bevelled to form the cuttingedge. When the product is being discharged from the spout into thereceptacle, the hole 23 is centered over the top of the receptacle thusallowing the product a clear path from the spout to the receptacle,Prior to movement of the receptacle toward the discharge position, theblade is shifted to the left to the cutting position (FIG. 10) in whichthe center of the hole 23 is disposed slightly to the left (FIG. 10) ofthe vertical centerline of the receptacle and in which a portion of theblade covers a portion of the upper end of the receptacle to expose thecutting edge (phantom lines in FIG. 3). The blade is of sufficientlength so that, as the blade and receptacle move from the fillingposition to the discharge position, the blade extends across the lowerend of the spout thus closing the latter.

To support and guide the blade 22 for movement and to support and guidethe upper end portion of the receptacle 16, a guideway 26 (FIG. 2)extends generally horizontally above the slideway 18. The guideway issupported above the slideway on one end of an arm 27 which extendshorizontally between the frame 14 and one edge of the guideway. As shownin FIG. 2, the frame comprises a vertical support post on which the armis mounted by a pair of collars 28. The guideway comprises ahorizontally extending, channel-shaped member 29 with the flangesextending upwardly and with one flange bolted to the arm 27 by bolts 30and nuts 31. Bolted on the underside of the channel-shaped member aretwo parallel, spaced apart guide rails 32 (FIG. 2) which extendlongitudinally of the slideway. The inner face of each rail is formedwith a pair of steps 33 (FIG. 7) the upper step on each rail supportingthe side edge portions of the blade 22 and mounting the latter forsliding movement. So that the receptacle can be guided during slidingbetween the filling position and the discharge position, the upper endportion of the receptacle is formed with laterally extending flanges 35(FIG. 7) which ride on the lower steps of the guide rails.

In this instance, the blade 22 and the receptacle 16 are moved by afluid operated actuator 36 (FIG. 4) which is suspended from the rightend portion of the channel-shaped member 29 beyond the right ends of theguide rails 32. The actuator comprises a cylinder 37, a piston (notshown) movable back and forth in the cylinder in response to theadmission of air alternately into the opposite ends ofthe cylinder, anda rod 38 connected to the piston for movement therewith. To enable therod to push the receptacle and move the blade, a piece of angle 39, withone leg extending vertically and the other horizontally, is connected tothe free end of the rod by a pin 40 which extends through the rod andthrough a pair of parallo] plates 41 welded to the two flanges of theangle in positions perpendicular to the two flanges. The underside ofthe blade is welded to the upper side of the horizontal leg of the angleand is positioned such that, when the rod is fully retracted and thereceptacle is in the filling position, the hole 23 in the blade iscentered over the open upper end of the receptacle. When the hole is socentered and the rod retracted, the vertical leg of the angle is spaceda short distance from the outer surface of the wall of the receptacle(see FIG. 9). During initial extension of the rod, the blade is movedrelative to the receptacle to the cutting position. After the rod hasextended sufficiently to place the angle in contact with the receptacle,further extension of the rod moves the receptacle and the blade inunison toward the discharge position. This is in effect a lost motiontype connection between the rod and the receptacle.

The blade 22 and the receptacle 16 are arranged such that initialretraction of the rod 38, after extension thereof, will move the bladefrom left to right relative to the receptacle until the hole 23 iscentered over the upper end of the recepta cle, and then furtherretraction of the rod will move the blade and receptacle in unison fromleft to right toward the filling position. Successive steps in themovement of the blade and the receptacle are shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. Asshown in FIG. 9, an L-shaped block 43 is rigidly mounted on and dependsfrom the left end portion of the blade and engages the wall of thereceptacle when the hole 23 is centered over the receptacle. Initialextension of the rod moves the blade from right to left relative to thereceptacle thus moving the blockaway from the receptacle wall. Duringinitial retraction of the rod, the blade moves from the cutting positionuntil the hole is recentered over the receptacle, at which point theblock engages the wall of the receptacle, and further retraction of therod moves the blade and receptacle in unison toward the fillingposition. The use of the block effects a second lost motion connectionbetween the rod and the receptacle. While the blade could be movedacross the entire upper end of the receptacle prior to movement of thereceptacle, the above arrangement is particularly advantageous becausethe fill and discharge cycle can be completed more rapidly due toshorter independent travel of the blade, and the life of the containeris longer because the angle 39 hits the container after a slower,shorter travel. To prevent the receptacle from traveling beyond thedischarge position when the rod is extended and to prevent travel beyondthe filling position when the rod is extended and to prevent travelbeyond the filling position when the rod is retracted, two end stops 44and 45 (FIGS. 9 and lll) extend laterally across the slideway 18 and arerigidly mounted thereon.

For a summary of the filling and discharge cycle of the receptacle l6,assume that the cycle begins with the receptacle in the dischargeposition, as shown in FIG. II, with the blade 22 covering a portion ofthe upper end of the receptacle and the block 43 spaced from thereceptacle. After the charge of product 12 falls out of the receptacleinto the funnel 19 to be placed in one of the containers 11, the rod 38is retracted and, during initial retraction of the rod, the blade movesrelative to the receptacle to center the hole 23 in the blade over theopen upper end of the receptacle. This initial retraction of the rodmoves the vertical leg of the angle 39 away from the receptacle. Asshown FIG. 12, the block 43 engages the receptacle when the hole 23 iscentered over the open upper end. Further retraction of the rod movesthe blade and receptacle in unison toward the filling position, theblock forcing the receptacle to move with the blade. Complete retractionof the rod places the receptacle in the filling position under the spout15 with the block still engaging the receptacle and the hole 23 in theblade centered over the upper end of the receptacle so that the productcan fall from the spout into the receptacle (see FIG. 9). The receptacledwells in the filling position and is filled with product.

Once the receptacle I6 is full, it is moved by advancement of the rod 38of the actuator 36 to the discharge position to fill one of thecontainers 11. The operation of the actuator is timed in relation to theadvance of the containers one at a time to positions beneath the funnel19 to be filled with a charge of the product 12 so that one charge isdelivered as each container is moved into position beneath the funnel.During initial advancement of the rod, the blade, which is rigidlyconnected to the rod, moves relative to the receptacle until thevertical leg of the angle 39 contacts the receptacle (FIG. This movementof the blade positions the blade in the cutting position in which aportion of the blade cover a portion of the upper end of the receptacle,and the cutting edge of the blade slices through the particles 21 in itspath as the cutting edge moves partially across the upper end of thereceptacle. Further advancement of the rod moves the receptacle andblade in unison to the discharge position. As the receptacle and blademove, the cutting edge of the blade passes beneath the spout thuscutting through any particles which extend partially above the top ofthe receptacle. By cutting through the top layer of particles in thismanner, the lower portions of the cut particles are forced under theblade and the upper portions are allowed to remain in the spout thusreducing the tendency of the particles in the top layer to jump out ofthe receptacle and thus resulting in accurate filling of the receptacle.The receptacle is moved to the discharge position by full advancement ofthe rod to discharge the charge of product into the funnel thuscompleting one full cycle. As shown in FIG. 11, the blade closes thebottom of the spout when the receptacle is not beneath the spout so asto prevent loss of the product.

To allow the machine 10 to be used to divide the product into any givenpredetermined quantity within a given range without replacing thereceptacle 16, the receptacle can be changed to accommodate any volumewithin a predetermined range of volumes. This is accomplished by formingthe receptacle with an inner telescoping sleeve 47 (FIG. 8) and an outertelescoping sleeve 48. When the volume of the receptacle is to bedecreased, the sleeves are telescoped together and, when the volume isto be increased, the sleeves are extended or pulled away from oneanother. The inner sleeve is cylindrical with the flange 35 which rideson the guide rail 32 being formed on the upper end portion of the innersleeve and extending outwardly therefrom.

In this instance, the outer sleeve 48 is formed a cylindrical bore and asquare exterior shape with chamfered vertical corners, and flanges 49(one shown in FIG. 7) which ride on the slideway 18 extend laterallyoutwardly from opposite sides of the lower end portion of the outersleeve. Guiding the sleeves as the latter telescope or extend are twopins 50 (FIGS. 3 and 7) which are rigidly mounted on and depend from theunderside ofthe flange 35 on the inner sleeve, and these pins slide invertical bores 51 formed in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is heldin the guide rails 32 between the blade 22 and the steps 33 of the guiderails. To help keep the outer sleeve pressed against the slideway, fourcompression springs 52 (FIGS. 3 and 6) are seated in vertical bores 53in the corners of the outer sleeve, and these springs are compressedbetween the bottoms of the bores and the undersides of the flanges 35 tourge the sleeves apart.

Advantageously, the slideway I8 is adjustably mounted on the post 14 forvertical movement to allow the volume of the receptacle 16 to be changedby raising and lowering of the slideway with the sleeves 47 and 48telescoping or extending. With this arrangement, the volume of thereceptacle can be changed simply and easily without moving thecomparatively heavy hopper l3 and without any dismantling of the machinebeing required. To support the slideway for vertical movement. atraveling nut arrangement is used. Herein, a rod 56 (FIG. 2) extendsvertically through the arm 27 which mounts the guideway 26 on the post,and the lower end portion of the rod extends through a guide 57connected to a pair of brackets 58 which are mounted on the post belowthe pair of brackets 28 supporting the arm. The rod is free to turn inthe arm and the guide and is threaded from a point above the guide to apoint below the arm. An elongated T-shaped nut 59 (FIGS. 2

and 4) is threaded onto the rod between the arm and the guide, and apair of angles 60 extend between the nut and the underside of theslideway, the angles being rigidly connected on opposite end portions tothe nut and the slideway. To prevent the T-shaped nut form turning whenthe rod is turned, the flanges of the nut ride in a pair of verticalZ-shaped guides 61 rigidly mounted on the brackets 58. The slideway israised or lowered by turning the rod with a knob 62 (FIG. 2) on theupper end of the rod thus forcing the nut to ride up or down the rod.

When the sleeves 47and 48 are extended to increase the volume of thereceptacle 16 to volumes near the upper limit of the predetermined rangeof volumes, the springs 52 reach their expansion limits and are notfully effective to bias the outer sleeve 48 against the slideway 18.Advantageously, additional biasing means are provided to keep a constantdownward pressure on the flanges 49 of the outer sleeve to insure thatthe outer sleeve will be pressed against the slideway when the sleevesare fully extended. Herein, the biasing means comprise a pair ofelongated rectangular plates 64 (one shown in FIG. 4) which extendlongitudinally of the slideway from the end stop 44 to the end stop 45and which overlie the flanges 49 of the outer sleeve. Screws 65 (FIG. 7)extend through the end portions of the plates to mount the latter on theslideway and, to bias the plates against the top of the flanges, acompression spring 66 is telescoped onto each screw and is compressedbetween the head of the screw and the top of the respective plate. Withthis arrangement, the flanges of the outer sleeve are free to slidealong the slideway while being biased against the slideway by thesprings 66 through the plates 64 and, with the plates mounted directlyon the slideway by the screws 65, the pressure exerted on the flanges isconstant regardless of the extent the sleeves are extended.

As shown in FIG. 1, the containers 11 receiving the product 12 are, inthis instance, flat pouches formed of flexible material. The pouches areadapted to be gripped by clamps 67 connected to a power drive chain 68and are advanced one at a time between a pair of suction cups 69 whichgrip the walls of the pouches and open the latter After being opened,each pouch is advanced beneath the discharge spout 19 to be filled witha charge of the product. During the time the product is in the hopper13, a large quantity of excess liquid 69a (FIG. 9), mostly water, buildsup in the hopper and must be removed prior to insertion of the productinto the pouches. Ad vantageously, a drain 70 (FIG; 4) is positioned inthe slideway I8 beneath the hopper spout 15 to draw off the excessliquid through the open lower end of the receptacle 16 during filling ofthe receptacle. The drain comprises a plate 71 formed with a series ofvertical holes extending therethrough, the plate being mounted in a holein the slideway directly beneath the spout. To increase theeffectiveness of the drain, a tube 72 (FIG. 1) is connected at one endto the spout of a funnel 73 mounted on the underside of the slidewaybeneath the plate 71, and the other end of the tube is connected to avacuum source (not shown), the excess fluid being sucked through theplate and the tube for disposal at the other end of the tube.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the passing of theblade 22 to the cutting position between the upper end of receptacle l6and the lower end of the hopper spout 15 and then the movement of theblade and receptacle in unison is a particularly advantageousarrangement. With this arrangement, the top layer of particles 21 of theproduct 12 in the receptacle can be leveled even with the top of thereceptacle while reducing the tendency of'the particles to jump duringleveling thus allowing the product to be divided with accuracy intocharges of equal volume. Moreover, mounting the blade to move to coveronly a portion of the upper end of the receptacle before travel of theblade and receptacle in unison permits rapid cycling of the receptaclebetween the filling position and the discharge position ans also resultsin less wear and tear on the receptacle. The mounting of the slideway 18for vertical adjustment is very beneficial because the volume of thereceptacle can be changed more quickly and easily than has been possiblepreviously. Holding of the outer sleeve 48 against the slideway with aneven pressure regardless of the degree of extension of the sleeves 47and 48 results from the advantageous arrangement of the plates 64 whichare spring biased against the flanges 49 of the outer sleeve.Additionally, the excess liquid is removed from the product by the drain70 prior to placement of the product in the pouches 11.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for volumetrically measuring and dispensingpredetermined quantities of a product, the combination of, a frame, ahopper mounted on said frame for storing a large supply of the productand having a spout for discharging the product, a measuring receptacleopen at the upper end and slidable mounted on said frame, mechanism forsliding said receptacle in a predetermined direction form a fillingposition beneath said spout to a discharge position spaced horizontallyform said spout, a blade connected to said mechanism for movement by thelatter in said predetermined direction between the lower end of saidspout and the upper end of said receptacle to a cutting position inwhich said blade covers a portion of the upper end of said receptacleprior to movement of said receptacle from said filling position, saidblade being an elongated plate-shaped member positioned above saidreceptacle and having a hole extending vertically therethrough which isat least as large as the open upper end of said receptacle, said bladebeing movable with said receptacle from said filling position to saiddischarge position while still covering said portion of said receptacle,and said blade being operable to cut through the product between saidspout and said receptacle as the latter is shifted to said dischargeposition thereby to insure that said receptacle will be accuratelyfilled to a level even with the upper end of said receptacle.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the lower end of said receptacle isopen, said frame including a generally horizontal slideway with saidreceptacle being slidably mounted thereon, a drain in said slideway andvertically aligned with said spout, and means for pulling a vacuum onsaid drain so that excess liquid surrounding the product can be removedfrom the product in the receptacle prior to shifting of said receptacleto said discharge position.

3, The machine of claim 1 in which said frame includes a generallyvertical support, a generally horizontal slideway adjustably mounted onsaid support for vertical movement, and said receptacle comprising innerand outer telescoping sleeves with one of said sleeves bearing againstsaid slideway whereby the volume of said receptacle may be varied withina predetermined range by raising and lowering said slideway to telescopeand extend said sleeves.

4. The machine of claim 3 in which the lower end portion of one saidsleeves is formed with an outwardly extending flange which rides on saidslideway, a generally horizontal elongated member positioned above saidflange and extending between said filling position and said dischargeposition, means connected to said slideway for biasing said memberdownwardly into contact with said flange to hold said one sleeve againstsaid slideway so that, when said slideway is lowered to change thevolume of said receptacle, said one sleeve is biased against saidslideway with a constant force thus causing said sleeves to extend toaccurately reflect in the volume of the receptacle the movement of saidslideway.

5. The machine of claim I in which said blade is ofa length sufficientto cover and close the end of said spout while still covering saidportion of said receptacle when said receptacle is in said dischargeposition.

6. The machine of claim 1 in which said mechanism comprises a fluidoperated actuator, said actuator comprising a cylinder, a pistonslidable back and forth in said cylinder in response to the admission ofpressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of said cylinder, a rodconnected at one end to said piston for advancement toward andretraction away from said receptacle, the other end of said rod beingspaced from said receptacle when said receptacle 1S "1 said illmgposition and when the rod is retracted and said blade being connected tosaid rod so that initial advancement of said rod toward said receptaclesmoves said rod into engagement with said receptacle and moves said bladeinto said cutting position and further advancement of said rod movessaid receptacle and said blade in unison.

7. The machine of claim 6 in which said blade extends beyond saidreceptacle in said predetermined direction, means connected to saidblade for contacting said receptacle on the opposite side of saidreceptacle from said rod, said means being spaced from said receptaclewhen said receptacle is in said discharge position and moving intocontact with said receptacle during initial retraction of said rod awayform said receptacle and as said blade is moved to uncover saidreceptacle and said means being operable thereafter to move saidreceptacle toward said filling position during further retraction ofsaid rod.

8. In a machine for volumetrically measuring and dispensingpredetermined quantities of a product, the combination of, a frame, ahopper mounted on said frame for storing a large supply of the productand having a spout for discharging the product, a slideway adjustablymounted on said frame for vertical movement, a measuring receptacle openat its upper and lower ends and formed by two telescoping sleeves, saidreceptacle being slidably mounted on said slideway so that the volume ofsaid receptacle can be changed by raising or lowering said slideway,mechanism for sliding said receptacle in a predetermined direction froma filling position beneath said spout to a discharge position spacedhorizontally from said spout, a drain formed in said slideway andpositioned beneath said receptacle when said receptacle is in saidfilling position, means for pulling a vacuum on said drain so thatexcess liquid surrounding the product in the receptacle can be quicklyand easily removed prior to shifting of said receptacle, a flat,horizontally extending blade with a hole at least as large as the openupper end of said receptacle extending vertically through said blade,said blade being positionable between the upper end of said receptacleand said spout in a normal position in which said hole registers withthe open upper end of said receptacle, said blade being connected tosaid mechanism for movement in said predetermined direction by saidmechanism from said normal position to a cutting position in which saidblade covers a portion of the upper end of said receptacle prior tomovement with said receptacle from said filling position with said bladebeing movable with said receptacle from said filling position to saiddischarge position while still covering said portion of said receptacle,and said blade being operable to cut through the product between saidspout and said receptacle to insure that said receptacle will be filledwith product which is accurately leveled across the top of saidreceptacle.

1. In a machine for volumetrically measuring and dispensingpredetermined quantities of a product, the combination of, a frame, ahopper mountEd on said frame for storing a large supply of the productand having a spout for discharging the product, a measuring receptacleopen at the upper end and slidable mounted on said frame, mechanism forsliding said receptacle in a predetermined direction form a fillingposition beneath said spout to a discharge position spaced horizontallyform said spout, a blade connected to said mechanism for movement by thelatter in said predetermined direction between the lower end of saidspout and the upper end of said receptacle to a cutting position inwhich said blade covers a portion of the upper end of said receptacleprior to movement of said receptacle from said filling position, saidblade being an elongated plate-shaped member positioned above saidreceptacle and having a hole extending vertically therethrough which isat least as large as the open upper end of said receptacle, said bladebeing movable with said receptacle from said filling position to saiddischarge position while still covering said portion of said receptacle,and said blade being operable to cut through the product between saidspout and said receptacle as the latter is shifted to said dischargeposition thereby to insure that said receptacle will be accuratelyfilled to a level even with the upper end of said receptacle.
 2. Themachine of claim 1 in which the lower end of said receptacle is open,said frame including a generally horizontal slideway with saidreceptacle being slidably mounted thereon, a drain in said slideway andvertically aligned with said spout, and means for pulling a vacuum onsaid drain so that excess liquid surrounding the product can be removedfrom the product in the receptacle prior to shifting of said receptacleto said discharge position.
 3. The machine of claim 1 in which saidframe includes a generally vertical support, a generally horizontalslideway adjustably mounted on said support for vertical movement, andsaid receptacle comprising inner and outer telescoping sleeves with oneof said sleeves bearing against said slideway whereby the volume of saidreceptacle may be varied within a predetermined range by raising andlowering said slideway to telescope and extend said sleeves.
 4. Themachine of claim 3 in which the lower end portion of one said sleeves isformed with an outwardly extending flange which rides on said slideway,a generally horizontal elongated member positioned above said flange andextending between said filling position and said discharge position,means connected to said slideway for biasing said member downwardly intocontact with said flange to hold said one sleeve against said slidewayso that, when said slideway is lowered to change the volume of saidreceptacle, said one sleeve is biased against said slideway with aconstant force thus causing said sleeves to extend to accurately reflectin the volume of the receptacle the movement of said slideway.
 5. Themachine of claim 1 in which said blade is of a length sufficient tocover and close the end of said spout while still covering said portionof said receptacle when said receptacle is in said discharge position.6. The machine of claim 1 in which said mechanism comprises a fluidoperated actuator, said actuator comprising a cylinder, a pistonslidable back and forth in said cylinder in response to the admission ofpressure fluid alternately into opposite ends of said cylinder, a rodconnected at one end to said piston for advancement toward andretraction away from said receptacle, the other end of said rod beingspaced from said receptacle when said receptacle is in said fillingposition and when the rod is retracted and said blade being connected tosaid rod so that initial advancement of said rod toward said receptaclesmoves said rod into engagement with said receptacle and moves said bladeinto said cutting position and further advancement of said rod movessaid receptacle and said blade in unison.
 7. The machine of claim 6 inwhich said blade extends beyond said receptacle in said predetermineddirection, means connected to said blade for contacting said receptacleon the opposite side of said receptacle from said rod, said means beingspaced from said receptacle when said receptacle is in said dischargeposition and moving into contact with said receptacle during initialretraction of said rod away form said receptacle and as said blade ismoved to uncover said receptacle and said means being operablethereafter to move said receptacle toward said filling position duringfurther retraction of said rod.
 8. In a machine for volumetricallymeasuring and dispensing predetermined quantities of a product, thecombination of, a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame for storing alarge supply of the product and having a spout for discharging theproduct, a slideway adjustably mounted on said frame for verticalmovement, a measuring receptacle open at its upper and lower ends andformed by two telescoping sleeves, said receptacle being slidablymounted on said slideway so that the volume of said receptacle can bechanged by raising or lowering said slideway, mechanism for sliding saidreceptacle in a predetermined direction from a filling position beneathsaid spout to a discharge position spaced horizontally from said spout,a drain formed in said slideway and positioned beneath said receptaclewhen said receptacle is in said filling position, means for pulling avacuum on said drain so that excess liquid surrounding the product inthe receptacle can be quickly and easily removed prior to shifting ofsaid receptacle, a flat, horizontally extending blade with a hole atleast as large as the open upper end of said receptacle extendingvertically through said blade, said blade being positionable between theupper end of said receptacle and said spout in a normal position inwhich said hole registers with the open upper end of said receptacle,said blade being connected to said mechanism for movement in saidpredetermined direction by said mechanism from said normal position to acutting position in which said blade covers a portion of the upper endof said receptacle prior to movement with said receptacle from saidfilling position with said blade being movable with said receptacle fromsaid filling position to said discharge position while still coveringsaid portion of said receptacle, and said blade being operable to cutthrough the product between said spout and said receptacle to insurethat said receptacle will be filled with product which is accuratelyleveled across the top of said receptacle.